The Escalon Outlaws youth football program would celebrate Homecoming this week and welcome in the Central Valley 49ers to Engel Field.
The Varsity Outlaws were coming off back-to-back wins and looking for their third win in a row.
Central Valley would take the opening kick-off and open their offense from their own 23-yard line. The Outlaws defense would set the tone of the game. Logan Anderson would wrestle the 49er ball carrier to the ground for a loss on third down forcing Central Valley to punt. It did not take Escalon long to score, three plays to be exact. Matthew Baptista carried the ball for 20 yards and then the final five yards into the end zone. The point after touchdown kick was converted by Jacob Martin opening the scoring 7-0.
On the first play following the ensuing kick-off the Central Valley ball carrier would fumble the ball away to be covered by Donovan Rozevink. Escalon would strike quickly with a high arcing pass from Rozevink to Owen Nash in the end zone for a 15-yard score. Martin would boot another point after kick through the uprights to extend the lead to 14-0.
The Escalon defense could be described as stingy on the brisk Saturday evening. The defensive front of Rozevink, Tate Christensen, Sam Hinojosa, CJ Miller, and Baptista held the visiting 49ers in check most of the game, forcing multiple turnovers on downs. Anderson and Baptista would add a touchdown each before the halftime intermission. Escalon would enjoy a 28-0 lead heading into the second half.
Rozevink would open the second half scoring with a seven-yard run set up by long runs by Baptista and Anderson. The point after kick by Martin would push the lead further to 35-0. The offensive line of Ayden Wilson, Hinojosa, Christensen, Hunter Budd, Miller, and Zack Valencia opened holes to allow the running backs to run at will.
Baptista would end the scoring onslaught with one more carry into the Central Valley end zone. Martin would close the scoring with the point after kick. The defense could be proud, posting its first shutout of the season, 42-0.
The Outlaws will be on the road Saturday, Sept. 22 at the perennial rival Hughson Huskies. Escalon needs to extend their winning streak to stay one game behind the leaders of the league.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The junior varsity Outlaws would stake their 4-0 start to the season in a clash with a fellow unbeaten Central Valley 49er team. The mid-season clash lived up to the billing.
Central Valley would start the game with an attempted onside kick. Escalon would recover the kick and start from the 49ers’ side of the 50-yard line. Escalon would march down the field with a steady diet of running by Jimmy Auble and Ruben Moreno. Jamin Miller would find an open Ryan Lewis behind the defense in the end zone from nine yards out. Josue Limones would boot the point after kick through the uprights to give Escalon an early 8-0 lead. Central Valley would answer with a drive of their own, but the point after conversion would be stopped short making the score 8-6 in favor of the Outlaws.
Escalon would have another chance to score before halftime but would fall short. Starting from their own 46-yard line the Outlaws would again drive the ball toward the 49ers’ end zone with tough running by Auble, Moreno, Alan Jimenez and Miller. Escalon would get down to the Central Valley four-yard line but get no further. Penalties and a strong defensive effort held the Outlaws out of the end zone.
Central Valley would score 13 unanswered points staring with the opening drive of the second half. The 49ers drive would eat up more than half of the 10-minute quarter. The 49ers would follow the score with another onside kick, this time recovering the ball in Escalon territory. Central Valley would score from distance when the 49ers’ ball carrier was able to turn the corner from 21 yards and outrace the defense. After the scoring stopped it was 19-8 Central Valley.
Escalon would again rely on the ground attack to get them into the end zone. Moreno would storm in for the touchdown from seven yards. The point after kick would be missed leaving the score 19-14. The Outlaws had one more possession with just over two minutes to play but could not move the ball, turning it back over on downs.
Escalon will look to get back in the win column when visiting Hughson on Saturday.
NOVICE
The Novice Outlaws wanted to continue the momentum built during the big win last week against the visitors, the Central Valley 49ers. Central Valley would score 13 unanswered points in the first half of play putting the young Outlaws in a deep hole with only the second half to mount a comeback.
Kyrin Barajas would capture the 49ers ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage on fourth down and short yardage to gain, giving the Outlaws a turnover on downs. Escalon would take over on their own 25-yard line. The ensuing drive would travel deep into Central Valley territory before stalling at the 49ers one-yard line. The 49ers would again be stymied by The Outlaws’ defense turning the ball over on downs in their own territory.
Barajas would then get in high gear carrying the lion’s share of the load on a 31-yard scoring drive, notching a touchdown from 11 yards out. The point after kick was sent through by Mason Fiser narrowing the gap to 13-8 Central Valley. The 49ers would fumble the ball away, recovered by Houston Sizeula, giving Escalon another chance to get on the scoreboard.
Barajas would take his next carry 48 yards outdistancing the Central defense for another score. The point after kick was true by Fiser giving Escalon its first lead of the day, 16-13. Central Valley found the remaining 1:38 on the clock plenty of time to break the young Outlaws’ hearts. A controversial penalty, long pass, and acrobatic catch aided the 49ers dagger score with just one second remaining on the game clock.
The young Outlaws are aiming for a bounce back week on the road Saturday, Sept. 22 in Hughson.
JUNIOR NOVICE
The youngest Outlaws were in action this week after a bye last week.
Bennet Guevara would open the scoring on a one-yard plunge set up by a 20-yard carry by Ian Trejo. The visiting 49ers would reel off three consecutive scores making the score 3-1 before Escalon could get on the board again. Trejo would score from 35 yards out closing the gap to 3-2.
The Escalon defense, led by Allie Fiser and Trejo, gave the Outlaws one last possession, but they could not cash in dropping the game with a final 3-2 score.
The youngest Outlaws will look to improve Saturday on the road against the Hughson Huskies.
